When I was a kid I spent a lot of time worried about a potential nuclear war with the USSR.  Well, that’s what I remember the TV news saying kids were worried about back then.  In truth I was more worried about whether BJ and the Bear could foil Sheriff Lobo again.

So last night Shelby, age six, told me what she was worried about.  As I helped her get ready for bed she asked, “Do you know why I don’t want to grow up?”  I secretly hoped she would say because she always wants to be Daddy’s little girl.  I asked her why.

“Because I’m afraid it will hurt when the doctor cuts the vocal cord.”

We stared at each other blankly for a few seconds.  And then I got it.  “Do you mean the umbilical cord?”  She realized her mistake and laughed.  “Yeah!”

She must have been picturing being a mommy someday, and I have no idea where she picked up that part of the process.  I assured her that she really didn’t need to worry about that.  Little girls should dream instead of worry.  The future will be here all too soon, and she’ll be ready for it long before I am.  It’s a beautiful, healthy thing for a child to become a responsible young adult.  But cutting that cord is really going to hurt.